BMS adds in vivo cell therapy tech with $1.5B buy of Orbital

With the $1.5 billion acquisition of Orbital, BMS will gain an in vivo cell therapy platform and a lead CAR T program for immune disorders that could arrive in the clinic next half.

The deal is the latest of at least five takeouts of in vivo CAR T companies during the past 12 months, suggesting heightened pharma interest in the technology. The buyers believe in the modality’s potential to overcome the major commercial and market access hurdles of ex vivo autologous CAR Ts, by bypassing the personalized manufacturing steps...